Illuminated signal device for lifesaving equipment



y 1945- r H. A. s. VAN DAALEN 2,377-194 LLLUMINATED SIGNAL DEVICE FOR LIFE SAVING EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. '31, 194:

)4 A ay A25. lhvmmgy Patented May 29, 1945 ILLUMINATED SIGNAL DEVICE FOR LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT Henry A. S. van Daalen, New York, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1943, Serial No. 516,462

3 Claims. (o1. 240 40.68)

My present invention, in some respects, is an improvement upon my invention defined in my application Serial #451,452, filed July 18, 1942, on Signal means for life saving equipment, and broadly speaking it is my purpose to provide an illuminated signal which will operate either as a flash signal or a constant signal and designed especially to be used with life saving equipment such as life saving suits and preservers. To this end the device is substantiallywaterproof, fireproof, and shock proof, and conforms to standards set up for equipment of this type laid down by organizations having to do with marine life saving equipment.

It is characteristic of the conditions under which my present invention must operate and prove practicaL'that fire may also be met with in addition to submersion in salt water and the like for long'lengths of time, so that the signal light to be useful must be substantially fireproof as well as waterproof. Furthermore, sincerescue craft often operate under conditions of poor visibility, and the person in distress is at best difficult to locate andsee, the light must be capable of being seenat quite some distance away, and to this end my present signal light may be elevated by the hand by the person in distress and operated either as a flash lightor as a sustained light. In addition since the person in distress is likely to be battered by waves and wreckage the signal light must be securely attached to the person, although the means of attachment must be such as will not be likely to cause leaks in life saving equipment. In addition to all of the above, the person in distress is oftentimes in a weakened condition and confused or perhaps injured, so that manipulation of the light must be relatively simple and easy. My present invention is designed to meet all of the above, and other hazards and conditions of use, and furthermore it is resistant to corrosion in salt water, has no fragile or complicated parts, presents a smooth exterior unlikely to be caught in obstructions; is easy to operate; has dual means of attachment to a person carrying the same, and is otherwise a simple, practical, and unique accessory for marine as well as other uses. My presentv signal is also adapted to be used in several fashions; that is to be waved as a sustained light or operated when waved as a flash light; to be attached to the person as a sustained light; to be flashed directionallythat is pointed; and to be used both as a flash or sustained signal alternately. 1

Briefly stated, some of the important objects of my present invention are: (1) to provide a signal which may be operated either as a sustained signal or a flash; (2) to provide a signal which is securely attached to the person by means notlikely to puncture or harm life saving equipment, and which at the same time may be grasped and elevated by the arm above the head; (3)

to provide a substantially fireproof, waterproof and corrosion proof signalling means which is adaptable for use in salt water; (4) to provide a signal which has no fragile or delicate parts liable to become broken or out of order in heavy seas, or'bycont'act with Wreckage and th like; (5) to provide a device which is easily and quickly operated and can be used by a person in a weakened condition and the like; (6) to provide novel contact means; ('7) to insure positiveness of op- 'eration, and; (8) to provide a useful, practical,

and efficient device for marine use in conjunction with accepted forms of life-saving equipment.

, Other and equally important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as the description proceeds'in conjunction with the tachment of the bulb and spring to the bulb support;

Figure 7 is a detail of the clasp for attaching the signal to the person;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary detail of the toothed edge of the clasp; and

Figure 9 is a sectional detail of the flash signal contact means.

i In the drawing wherein like characters ofreference are used to designatelike or similar parts throughout the several views;

The numeral I designates the cylindrical, hollow case which is formed of substantially Waterproof and fireproof plastic material and which is screwthreaded as at 2 at the top edge, which is also provided with an annular rib 3;

the bottom of the case is open and the exterior side walls are beveled down to the bottom edge as at 4. At the bottom the case is provided with spaced apart interior ribs or flanges 5 between which the interior wall is annularly grooved as at I. A rubber, or synthetic rubber, or Neoprene plug 8 is fitted into the space between the flanges as shown in Figures 2 and 9; the sponginess of the rubber or the like being such as to fit about the flanges 5 and into the groove 1 to make a watertight closure, and it will be noted that by pressing the plug with the thumb A it will bow inwardly as indicated by dotted lines at 6, and then when pressure is released will return to its normal position. The base is also provided with an opening 8a to receive the lanyard or cord 9 which is provided with a safety pin ID at its free end to attach the device to a garment or the like of the person.

Carried within the case I is a battery H and fitted over the open top of the case is a domed plate l2 provided with a central opening l3 flanged as at M to carry the bulb IS; a spring I! is attached to the flange l4 and bulb l5, and the plate spaced apart detents or fingers I6 which engage between the battery and the inner wall of the case i as shown in Figure 2; a small supporting spring i8 is engaged about the bulb above the dome to steady it.

The lens 19 is formed of suitable plastic and is interiorly ribbed as at 20 and screwthreaded as at 2| to engage the screw threads at the top of the case to hold the lens thereon and the exterior base part of the lens is formed with serrated means 22 to form a finger grip so that the lens may be turned as desired. A waterproof closure is thus provided for the case, and the type of plastic used for both the case and lens is substantially fireproof and corrosion proof.

In operation a flash signal is obtained by pressing the plugB to the position shown in Figure 9 so that contact is made to power the lamp. A sustained signal is produced by screwing down the lens to the point where contactisestablished to power the lamp or bulb.

While a fixed attachment of the signal is obtained through the instrumentality of the lanyard and safety pin, certain flexibility of movement is permitted so that the light may be raised above the head and the like. tion of rest however, it is attached to the garment or the like by a spring rocking clasp 23 having a toothed jaw 24 and a handle part 25 as shown in Figures 2, 7 and 8.

While it is believed that the advantages and operation of my invention will be apparent from the foregoing, emphasis is again made of the fact that interpretation of the invention should only 2 has preferably four depending,

When in a posibe conclusive when made in the light of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A combined flash and sustained illuminating signal for life saving equipment, comprising flexible means for attaching the same to life saving equipment, and detachable means for attaching same to said equipment, a casing, a battery in said casing, a lamp, a support for the lamp, a spring means for cushioning said lamp, a spring between the support and the battery, a compressible member carried by the casing for moving the battery against the action of said latter spring to close the circuit to the lamp to give a flash signal, a lens, said lens being movable to close the circuit between the battery and the lamp to give a sustained signal, the connection between the lens and casing being substantially waterproof, and the lens and the casing formed of substantially waterproof and fire proof material.

2. A combined flash and sustained illuminating signal for life saving equipment, comprising a lanyard of flexible material, and a detachable connection on the lanyard for attaching the same to life saving equipment, a casing to which the lanyard is attached, a battery in the casing, a lamp, a domed plate having a central opening and a plurality of flngers to engage between the battery and the casing,'the bulb being supported in the opening of the plate, spring means for cushioning the lamp, a spring between the plate and the battery, a rubber plug carried in the bottom of the casing for moving the battery against the action of the latter spring to close the circuit to the lamp to give a flash signal, a lens, said lens being movable to close the circuit between the battery and the lamp to give a sustained signal, the connection between the lens and the casing being substantially waterproof, the lens and the casing being substantially waterproof and fireproof, and a clip for attaching the device to a piece of life saving equipment, said clip carried by the casing.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2, wherein the bottom of the casing is provided with spaced apart internal, annular flanges, and an annular groove between the flanges, and the rubber plug mounted between the flanges and material of its walls compressed into the groove to provide a watertight closure between the plug and the casing, and wherein the spaced fingers of the domed plate are bent to lie parallel with the walls of the casing.

HENRY A. S. VAN DAALEN. 

